Ignition lock

ABSTRACT

An ignition switch lock for automobiles which comprises an encircling band secured in an immovable manner to a steering column. A portion of the band comprises a pivotable blocking arm. When the blocking arm is in a closed or locked position, it engages the ignition switch and prevents entry of a key into the ignition switch. When the blocking arm is in an unlocked open position, a key may be freely inserted in the ignition switch.

United States Patent Pescuma et a1.

[54] IGNITION LOCK [72] Inventors: Gerald F. Pescuma, Salem; Alphonse J.Durso; Walter T. Brown, both of Lynn,all

of Mass.

[73] Assignee: General Products and Gear Co., Inc.,

Lynn, Mass.

[22] Filed: July 20,1970

21 Appl. NO.2 56,480

[52] U.S. CI ..70/21l, 70/237, 70/427,

200/44 [51 Int. Cl. ..B60r 25/04, E05b 13/00, HOlh 27/06 [58] Field ofSearch ..70/423, 424, 425, 426, 427,

70/428, 18,19, 36, 37, 209, 211, 212, DIG. 58, 237, 254, 177, 178, 179,180, 185, 186; 200/42, 61.54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS A 1,329,391 2/1920 Folster..70/252 [451 May 30, 1972 1,590,981 6/1926 Lockyer ..70/ 237 1,530,8143/1925 Credle ....70/1 7 8 1,828,658 10/1931 I-Ienke..... ..70/1 8 X1,213,811 1/1917 Smith ..200/61.54

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 115,542 12/1929 Austria ..70/l77 PrimaryExaminer-Albert G. Craig, Jr. AttorneyRichard P. Crowley and Richard L.Stevens 1571 ABSTRACT An ignition switch lock for automobiles whichcomprises an encircling band secured in an immovable manner to asteering column. A portion of the band comprises a pivotable blockingarm. When the blocking arm is in a closed or locked position, it engagesthe ignition switch and prevents entry of a key into the ignitionswitch. When the blocking arm is in an unlocked open position, a key maybe freely inserted in the ignition switch.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 30., 1972 3,665,738

INVENTORS GERALD F. PESCUMA ALPHONSE J. DURSO WALTER T. BROWN BY 2 i,

ATTORNEY IGNITION LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Presently, the rateof car theft is alarmingly high. Generally, there are two groups ofpeople or individuals who are involved in car thefts; either theprofessionals where the car is taken for resale, or the nonprofessionalswhere the car is primarily taken for weekend or hourly excursions andthen abandoned. The primary means used by professionals to steal cars isto either secure master keys from the manufacturers through any ofvarious methods and simply match the particular model number with themaster key and drive the car away, or they employ specialized equipmentto make wax impressions for the type of key required for the ignitionlock and then on the spot make a key for the ignition lock from a fairlystandard blank. The nonprofessional customarily jumps the ignitionwires. If a device were available which secured or blocked the ignitionswitch in such a way that the ignition switch could not be removed tojump the wires or insertion of a key or wax into the ignition switchcould be prevented, then the rate of car thefts could be significantlyreduced. Prior art locking devices to prevent entry of a master key intoan ignition have been suggested but they are generally quitecomplicated, costly, and require securing some device or apparatusphysically to the housing in which the ignition switch is disposed, suchas through bolting, welding, or otherwise. For example, U.S. Pat. No.1,956,438 discloses a device for protecting motor cars against theft.Although this reference does not teach preventing entry of a key into anignition switch, it is representative of various devices which arecomplex and costly. The device disclosed completely encircles a columnand is fixably secured thereto and when locked prevents movement of thesteering wheel relative to the column.

U.S. Pat. No. l, 179, 419 discloses a device for protecting a key holeby enclosing the key with a band-like member. However, this device doesnot completely encircle a steering column to block the ignition switchnor is it readily removable.

Accordingly, the prior art devices being difficult to install orincorporate into the car and costly, most car owners apparently havefelt that rather than pay the price to have the particular lockingdevices installed, it is worth running the risk of having the carstolen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Our invention is a simple inexpensive ignitionswitch locking device primarily adapted for locking ignition switchesdisposed on steering columns, which overcomes the difficulty of priorart devices. Briefly, our invention comprises a circumferential bandstructure which preferably engages in a frictional manner the steeringcolumn of an automobile. The band structure includes at least oneremovable section, which section may be locked into place to block entryof a key into the ignition switch. As used in this description, the termignition switch includes the structure which provides for entry of a keytherein whereby through movement of the key an ignition process may beinitiated. The materials of construction of the encircling band andremovable section are such that the device cannot be pried or forced offthe steering column or removed without sophisticated cutting techniques,such as torches, etc. The removable section engages the ignition switchpreferably by having a protuberance thereon, which protuberance mateswith the recessed section of the ignition switch. In one embodiment alock of the car owner's choice may be used to secure the device aboutthe steering column which lock would not be readily susceptible toopening by a commonly obtained master key.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a schematic and partialsectional view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative embodiment ofthe invention of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further alterna tiveembodiment of FIG. I.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Our invention is showngenerally at 10 and comprises a first arcuate section 12 and a secondarcuate section 14 secured one to the other by pivot pin 16. A spring 18is secured to the other ends of the sections 12 and 14 in a releasablemanner at 20 and 22, respectively, to form a completely encircling bandabout steering column 24. The spring 18 may be located above or beyondthe ignition switch 26 of the steering column and as shown is located ordisposed slightly above the ignition switch 26. A blocking arm 28 havinga protuberance 30 thereon, which protuberance mates with the recess ofthe ignition switch 26, is pivotally secured by pin 32 to one end of thearcuate section 12. The arm 28 when in an open or unlocked position isadapted to travel along track 34 until it reaches stop pin36. A lockingmechanism 38 is disposed in the other end of the blocking arm 28.

' As shown, the lock 38 disposed in the arm 28 is a securitytype lockand includes a hook-type element 40. This hooktype element 40 is adaptedto engage a corresponding hooktype element 42, the element 42 extendingfrom one end of the arcuate section 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the devicemay be placed about the steering column by securing the spring 18 at 20and 22 to each of the arcuate arm sections. When the car is not lockedfor security purposes, then the arm 28 is pivoted about pin 32, anddepending upon the particular construction of the steering column, typeof transmission, and steering wheel structure, the blocking arm 28 maybe simply pivoted away from the ignition switch or slid back as desired.When it is desired to securely lock the ignition switch 26, then theblocking arm 28 is brought down and the protuberance 30 engages therecess in the ignition switch 26 and the locking lug 40 engages thehook-type member 42 and is locked in place. If desired, any lockingarrangement may be used such as for example, a cylinder-type withcamming action and a locking pawl.

Although the blocking arm has been shown with the protuberance engagingthe recess in the ignition switch 26, a protuberance may not be used aslong as the blocking arm serves to prevent entry of a key into theignition lock. However, a protuberance is preferred in that this wouldprovide a close engaging fit of the entire device completely around thesteering column and would prevent the easy insertion of screw drivers,wrenches, or cutting instruments in a position between the exterior ofthe steering column and the inside of the device. Also, as shown in FIG.3, the blocking arm can be arranged so that it crosses between theraised portions of the ignition switch commonly found on some steeringcolumns. Again, this may be designed to ensure this complete close fitcompletely around the steering column. Although a spring 18 has beenused as being the flexible or releasable member, it is obvious thatanother solid arcuate section may be used or chain-like section may beused as desired. However, the spring-like member has been found to mostconvenient to accomodate circumferential differences in steering columnsof various models of automobiles. The materials of construction of thespring member 18, arcuate sections 12 and 14, and blocking arm 28, areconstructed of any formable or substantial material, such as strap,forged, or case hardened steel, or any other material heat-treated forstrength and durability. Although shown as comprising two arcuatesections 12 and 14 pivotally joined, these sections may be comprised ofonly one section which section may be sprung open, placed about thesteering column, and then released.

Referring to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of our invention is shownwherein the arcuate section 14 is characterized by an L-shaped extendingportion 44. The blocking arm 28 is characterized by an aperture 48therein through which aperture the L-shaped extending section 44 passes.A padlock 50 is inserted through an opening 46 in the section 44 to lockthe blocking arm 28' into place. Further, the inner portion of thearcuate sections 12 and 14, and the blocking arm 28 are characterized bya surface 52. The surface may form a dual function in preventingabrasion to the steering column when the locking device is used, and italso may have frictional characteristics which would enhance thefrictional engagement of the device to the steering column to preventits dislodgement, such as polymeric resinous materials to include foammaterials, elastomeric-type compounds etc.

Having described our invention, what we now claim is:

1. An ignition switch locking device which comprises a first arcuatesection adapted to encircle partially and engage a steering column,which column has an ignition switch thereon;

a second arcuate section adapted to encircle partially and engage asteering column;

means to secure the second arcuate section at one end thereof to thefirst arcuate section;

means to secure the other end of the second section to the first sectionto provide a completely encircling band about the column; and

a blocking arm secured to the first section in a movable manner andsecured to the second section in a locking manner, said arm adapted tomove from an open position.

to allow entry of a key into the switch to a closed locking positionengaging the switch to prevent entry of a key in the switch.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein one of the means to secure the firstand second sections to one another includes means to pivotally securesaid sections.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the movable manner of securement of theblocking arm to the first section is a pivot connection. I

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the means secured to said first andsecond sections to provide a completely encircling band about thesteering column in combination with the first and second sections whensaid blocking arm is in an open position is releasably secured to saidsections.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the blocking arm includes aprotuberance thereon, the protuberance adapted to engage in matingrelationship a recess in the ignition switch when the blocking arm is inits closed position.

6. The device of claim 3 which includes means disposed in the other endof said blocking arm to lockingly engage with said second section.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the second section is characterized byan L-shaped extension adapted to pass through an orifice disposed in oneend of the blocking arm.

1. An ignition switch locking device which comprises a first arcuatesection adapted to encircle partially and engage a steering column,which column has an ignition switch thereon; a second arcuate sectionadapted to encircle partially and engage a steering column; means tosecure the second arcuate section at one end thereof to the firstarcuate section; means to secure the other end of the second section tothe first section to provide a completely encircling band about thecolumn; and a blocking arm secured to the first section in a movablemanner and secured to the second section in a locking manner, said armadapted to move from an open position to allow entry of a key into theswitch to a closed locking position engaging the switch to prevent entryof a key in the switch.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein one of themeans to secure the first and second sections to one another includesmeans to pivotally secure said sections.
 3. The device of claim 1wherein the movable manner of securement of the blocking arm to thefirst section is a pivot connection.
 4. The device of claim 3 whereinthe means secured to said first and second sections to provide acompletely encircling band about the steering column in combination withthe first and second sections when said blocking arm is in an openposition is releasably secured to said sections.
 5. The device of claim3 wherein the blocking arm includes a protuberance thereon, theprotuberance adapted to engage in mating relationship a recess in theignition switch when the blocking arm is in its closed position.
 6. Thedevice of claim 3 which includes means disposed in the other end of saidblocking arm to lockingly engage with said second section.
 7. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the second section is characterized by an L-shapedextension adapted to pass through an orifice disposed in one end of theblocking arm.